, 1887-07-15
LIFE In ALASKA.
SOMETHING ABOUT OUR NORTHERN
TERRITORY AND ITS INHABITANTS.

The Crude Buildings in sitka-The
Houses of the Indians-IndInn Doctors
Methods-Ths B~uriaI-Scenes on tho
Seal Breeding Islands.
The buildings in Sitka are very crude.
The chief structure Of interest is the old
Greek church, built by the Russians nearly
a century ago. 1t has been carefully kept in
trim from time to time, and forms the first
object of curiosity to the traveller. The
Creoles worship in this church. The men
stand or kneel on the right side and the women
on the left, there being no pews or seats of
any kind. Their strict attention during wor-
ship is wonderful TO witness. No one turns to
look toward the right or left; alleges are kept
riyeted, rs it We're, upon the priest, who
seldom speaks, but keeps constantly moving
shout in symbolic worship.
The Indians have their own chapel, which
WAS also erected by the Russians. This shanty,
for il is nothing more, is fast going TO ruin.
The Sitkau Indians are a loathsome, thrift
less set, afflicted with scrofulous and pulmonic
diseases. Their bodies are large and out of
proportion with their short legs, due TO lack
OF pedestrian exercise and constant canoeing.
The houses of the Indians are from fifteen
to ninety-ive feet square. The roof slopes
from the center 10 within five or six feet of
the ground. In the center of the roof is a
hole left open for the escape Of smoke, there
iring no chimneys. The nreplaces in these
"rumcheries," as these houses are termed, are
made ia the center directly under the roof
hole. This contrivance is built of mud piled
mp three feet high, forming a pit like in
closure, where a fire is kept constantly burn
ing and over which several pots hang exhal-
ing the mingling fumes OF Goldfish, herring
and salmon. Several families live in one
rancherie, which consists of one room with
no window or ventilation save the smoke hole
and the circular hole about five feet high
used ms a door. The squaws squat around
the fire, tasting at intervals from the cook
pots, while their babies are strapped TO pieces
of board and put up against the wall for
hours at a time. They appear indiiTer, ut to
the %outcries Of their infants, who in chorus
make II perfect bedlam, and they go on chat
tering among themselves, endeavoring to
reach n higher key than the shrill babies
voices. The more stormy the weather the
less clothing the Indians wear. They evil
IDENTIFY consider clothing more for ornament
thnn use. This accounts for the many con-
slmptives among the Arctic Indians.
INDIAN DoCToRs'
Their "shnmansn or doctors are treated
with great respect, and 10 any other than an
ludian they are the most loathsome, repul-
-ive, unsightly creatures. Their healing
power is regarded as lessened by the use of
W1ter, in fact any cleansing fluid or sub
atamcc. Their hair is allowed to grow in an
uHkempt condition, their faces fairly seem
grooming under an accumulation of many
years dirt, until Old Nick himself cannot
look more revolving or more horrible. These
'sbomans' are w~oefully ignorant OF all medi-
cal cures. They know nothing of herbs and
weeds calculated to heal. Their cures are
supposed TO be made through magic. An In
dim never sends for a physician until he
feels himself sick unto death. They are all
equally apathetic regarding their physical
condition; they move around uncomplain-
ingly until they have no longer the strength
To creep about. Then it is the "shamann is
summoned. He in turn calls in the neighbors
far and near. They flock in and gather
around the patient in n standing or squatting
position. The "shaman'' places himself in
front Of the invalid and begins to chant in a
low voice, growing louder and louder, till the
dead might be aroused from their sleep by
the unearthly sounds rending the air. This
is kept up for hours, until the sick Indian,
through excitement, appears more animated
or, unable to endure the noise longer, sinks
into n comAtose state.
After death the body is placed in a sitting
position; the relatives join in a low chant for
two or three hours; then n square box, about
the size and shape of an ordinary dry goods
box, is brought, and the corpse lifted in, still
in II sitting position, and thus it is buried.
The females paint their faces in stripes with
red and blue paint and their teeth black rs n
token OF mourning.